Fastening apparatus and holding rack

ABSTRACT

A fastening apparatus and a holding rack which includes a holding dock, a holding device and the fastening apparatus. The holding device has a holding bracket and a fastened member. The fastening apparatus includes a collet and a sleeve. The collet has a bottom and a plurality of jutting plates. The collet is mounted onto the holding dock to hold the fastened member. The jutting plates are located longitudinally on the bottom in a protrusive manner. Each of the jutting plates has an outer surface on which a portion is extended outwards greater than other portion. The collet is encased in the sleeve. The sleeve has a tubular wall which has a plurality of segments corresponding to the jutting plates. Each segment has an inner surface on which a portion is extended inwards greater than other portion. When the greater extended inward portion of the tubular wall is in contact with the greater extended outwards portion of the jutting plate, the jutting plate is tilted inwards to press the fastened member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fastening apparatus and particularlyto a fastening apparatus adopted for use on a holding rack.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With constant advance of information technology personal handheldelectronic devices such as PDAs, handsets, GPS or digital video/audioplayers become increasingly popular. When the handheld electronicdevices are in a standby or OFF condition, they often are placedrandomly by some users. As a result the users often cannot find themwhen they are needed. To remedy this problem holding racks have beendeveloped to hold the handheld electronic devices when they are in thestandby or OFF condition so that they can be readily found wheneverneeded.

There are many types of holding racks now available on the market tohold the handheld electronic devices. FIG. 1 illustrates one kind ofthem that aims to hold a portable video/audio player 80. The holdingrack 100 mainly includes a holding bracket 120 to hold the video/audioplayer 80 and a holding dock 110. The holding bracket 120 and theholding dock 110 are coupled together in an integrated manner.

However as the handheld electronic devices now on the market are made ina wide variety of styles, even those of the same brand have differentshapes and sizes in different models. The holding bracket 120 also hasto be formed in different shapes and sizes accordingly. With the holdingbracket 120 and the holding dock 110 coupled in an integrated manner,once the holding bracket 120 is replaced, the holding dock 110 also hasto be replaced. It is not economic effective.

To resolve the aforesaid problem, another approach has been adopted thatforms the holding bracket and the holding dock separately, and then theyare assembled to become a holding rack as desired. Such an approachmakes the holding dock reusable when the holding bracket is replaced. Italso makes mass production of the holding bracket and holding dockeasier. At present the holding bracket and holding dock are mostlyfastened by screws to form the holding rack. Screw fastening takes moretime and efforts whether in fabrication and assembly, or duringreplacement of the holding bracket by users. There is still room forimprovement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, the present invention aims to providea fastening apparatus to facilitate assembly or replacement of theholding bracket.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a holding rack thathas a fastening apparatus to reduce assembly and replacement time of aholding bracket and also to make assembly and replacement operationseasier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening apparatus toreduce assembly and replacement time of a holding bracket and also tomake assembly and replacement operations easier.

To achieve the foregoing objects, the holding rack according to theinvention includes a holding dock, a holding device and a fasteningapparatus. The holding device includes a holding bracket and a fastenedmember. The fastening apparatus includes a collet and a sleeve. Thecollet is mounted onto a holding dock to hold the fastened member. Thecollet includes a bottom and a plurality of jutting plates that arelocated longitudinally on the bottom and extended outwards. Each of thejutting plates has an outer surface on which a portion is extendedoutwards greater than other portion. The collet is encased by the sleevewhich has a tubular wall formed with a plurality of segmentscorresponding to the jutting plates. Each segment has an inner surfaceon which a portion is extended inwards greater than other portion. Thegreater extended inwards portion of the tubular wall can be in contactwith the greater extended outwards portion of the jutting plates suchthat the jutting plates are urged inwards in an inclined manner tocompress the fastened member.

The fastening apparatus according to the invention is located on anobject to fasten an assembly article. The assembly article includes afastened member. The fastening apparatus includes a collet and a sleeve.The collet is mounted onto a holding dock to hold the fastened member.The collet includes a bottom and a plurality of jutting plates which arelocated on the bottom and extended longitudinally. Each jutting platehas an outer surface on which a portion is extended outwards greaterthan other portion. The collet is encased by the sleeve which has atubular wall formed with a plurality of segments corresponding to thejutting plates. Each segment has an inner surface on which a portion isextended inwards greater than other portion. The greater extendedinwards portion of the tubular wall can be in contact with the greaterextended outwards portion of the jutting plates such that the juttingplates are urged inwards in an inclined manner to compress the fastenedmember.

In the fastening apparatus, there is a first boss disposed on the innersurface of each jutting plate.

In the fastening apparatus, the inner surface of the tubular wall has asecond boss on the segment that is extended greater, and the outersurface of the jutting plate has at least a portion extended graduallyoutwards in the counterclockwise or clockwise direction. The second bossand the jutting plate have respectively a convex brink and a concavebrink, or a concave brink and a convex brink that are engaged with eachother. In addition, the inner surface of the tubular wall other than thesegment where the second boss is located has an inner surface on eachsegment that is extended inwards gradually in the counterclockwise orclockwise direction.

In the fastening apparatus, the second boss may be located on the outersurface of the jutting plate, and the inner surface of each segment ofthe tubular wall has at least a portion extended gradually inwards inthe clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

In the fastening apparatus, when the segment on the inner surface of thetubular wall that is extended greatest is positioned in a gap formedbetween the jutting plates, the inner surface of the tubular wall is incontact with the outer surface of the jutting plate.

In the holding rack or fastening apparatus set forth above, the sleevefurther has at least one push member located outside the tubular wall.

In the holding rack or fastening apparatus set forth above, the holdingdevice or other assembly articles may be assembled and disassembled byrotating the sleeve. Hence the fastening apparatus of the invention iseasier to assemble.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.The embodiments depicted below serve only for illustrative purpose andare not the limitation of the invention. The scope of the invention islimited only by the claims listed hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional holding rack for holding aportable video/audio player.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the holding rack ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the invention according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the collet according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the fastening apparatus in a fasteningcondition showing the positional relationship of the jutting plate andone segment of the tubular wall.

FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the fastening apparatus in an unfasteningcondition showing the positional relationship of the jutting plate andone segment of the tubular wall.

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of the fastening apparatus in a fasteningcondition showing the positional relationship of the collet and thefastened member.

FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the fastening apparatus in an unfasteningcondition showing the positional relationship of the collet and thefastened member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the fasteningapparatus in an unfastening condition showing the positionalrelationship of the jutting plate and one segment of the tubular wall.

FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the inventionshowing the fastening apparatus in a fastening condition and thepositional relationship of the jutting plate and one segment of thetubular wall.

FIG. 8B is a schematic view of the third embodiment of the inventionshowing the fastening apparatus in a unfastening condition and thepositional relationship of the jutting plate and one segment of thetubular wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a first embodiment of the holding rack of theinvention. The holding rack 200 includes a holding device 210, afastening apparatus 240 and a holding dock 250. The holding device 210has a holding bracket 212 and a fastened member 214 which is extended ona lower side of the holding bracket 212. The fastening apparatus 240includes a collet 220 and a sleeve 230. The fastened member 214 is heldin the collet 220 which is encased in the sleeve 230. The sleeve 230 hasa tubular wall 232 with push members 234 on the outer side to drive thesleeve 230. In this embodiment three sets of the push members 234 areprovided. However the number of the push members 234 may also be one,two or four or more.

The collet 220 includes a plurality of jutting plates 222 (three setsare shown in FIG. 3) and a bottom 224. The jutting plates 222 arelocated longitudinally on the bottom 224 in a protrusive manner. Thetubular wall 232 has a plurality of segments (three segments are formedin this embodiment). Each of the segments is corresponding to onejutting plate 222. Each segment has an inner surface on which a portionis extended inwards greater than other portion. In this embodiment theextended portion is a second boss 236. The holding dock 250 includes atop tray 252, a post 254 and a base 256. The post 254 is mounted ontothe base 256. The top tray 252 is mounted onto the post 254.

For assembling the holding rack, screws 252 b run through apertures 252a formed on the top tray 252 to be fastened to screw holes (not shown inthe drawings) of the collet 220 to fasten the collet 220 to the holdingdock 250. Then the collet 220 is encased in the sleeve 230, with thesecond boss 236 aligning with a gap 220 a formed between the juttingplates 222. After the sleeve 230 is coupled, the second boss 236 ispositioned in the gap 220 a of the jutting plates 222, and the collet220 is in an unfastening condition at this time. Then the fastenedmember 214 may be placed in the collet 220 (details of assemblyoperation will be discussed below).

Aside from fastening by screws, the collet 220 may also be fastened tothe holding dock 250 through other ways such as tenons, suction trays,magnets and the like. Moreover, the base 256 may be an ordinary flatdeck or with a suction tray located on the bottom thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4, the jutting plate 222 has a portion extendedoutwards greater than other portion. For instance in FIG. 4 at least oneportion of the jutting plate 222 has the outer surface extendedgradually outwards in the counterclockwise direction. Of course theouter surface of the jutting plate 222 may also be extended graduallyoutwards in the clockwise direction.

The following depicts operation of the fastening apparatus 240 to enablethose skilled in the art to assemble and disassemble the holding device210 through the fastening apparatus 240. The operating method of thefastening apparatus 240 will be described, please refer to FIGS. 5A, 5B,6A and 6B.

First referring to FIGS. 5A and 6A, when the holding device 210 has beeninstalled on the holding rack the push members 234 outside the sleeve230 may be pushed to rotate the sleeve 230 in the counterclockwisedirection. The second boss 236 originally located in the gap 220 a ismoved on the outer surface of the jutting plate 222 and is in contactwith the greater extended outwards portion thereof. Due to pressing ofthe second boss 236, the jutting plate 222 is tilted inwards. As aresult, the fastened member 214 is pressed by a first boss 226 and theinner surface of the jutting plate 222. Therefore the holding device 210cannot be easily removed from the collet 220. And the holding device 210is securely held by the fastening apparatus 240.

To remove the holding device 210 from the holding rack 200, push thepush members 234 (as shown in FIG. 3) to rotate the sleeve 230 in theclockwise direction (if the outer surface of the jutting plate 222 isgradually extended outwards in the clockwise direction the sleeve 230must be rotated in the counterclockwise direction). As the outer surfaceof the jutting plate 222 is gradually extended outwards in thecounterclockwise direction, the pressing force received by the juttingplate 222 from the sleeve 230 decreases gradually. When the second boss236 of the sleeve 230 is located between two jutting plates 222 withoutin contact with any one of them, the fastening member 214 does notreceive depressing of the first boss 226 and the inner surface of thejutting plate 222. Hence the holding device 210 can be easily removedfrom the holding rack 200.

During installation of the holding device 210, users can determinefastening condition of the fastening apparatus 240 through the sense onthe hand. Moreover, the second boss 236 and the jutting plate 222 mayalso have respectively a convex brink 236 a and a concave brink 222 athat are engaged with each other. During fastening of the fasteningapparatus 240 the convex brink 236 a is finally engaged with the concavebrink 222 a. Then a click sound and vibration are generated to informusers that the holding device 210 has been securely coupled with theholding rack 200. In addition, the mating convex brink 236 a and theconcave brink 222 a also enable the collet 220 and the sleeve 230 toform a more secured coupling without loosening off easily. Of course, tothose skilled in the art, the convex brink may also be formed on thejutting plate 222 while the concave brink be formed on the second boss236.

In the previous discussion the first boss 226 on the inner surface ofthe jutting plate 222 mainly allows the fastened member 214 to befastened more securely in the collet 220. Of course to those skilled inthe art the first boss 226 may be dispensed with. And through the innersurface of the jutting plate 222 a pressing force may be generated tofasten the fastened member 214 in the collet 220.

While the second boss 236 previously discussed is located on the tubularwall 232, in practice it also may be located on the outer surface of thejutting plate 222, and at least a portion of the inner surface of thetubular wall 232 is extended gradually inwards in the clockwise orcounterclockwise direction. Such a design can also achieve the resultsimilar as the first embodiment does.

More embodiments of the invention are discussed below. Those elementssame as the first embodiment are marked by the same numerals, and willnot be discussed unless necessary.

Refer to FIG. 7 for a second embodiment of the invention with thefastening apparatus in an unfastening condition. In this embodiment,aside from the portion where the second boss 236 is located, the innersurface of the tubular wall 332 is gradually extended inwards in thecounterclockwise or clockwise direction (clockwise direction is shown inFIG. 7).

Compare FIG. 7 with FIG. 5B, the gap 338 between the jutting plate 222and the tubular wall 332 in FIG. 7 is smaller than the gap 238 betweenthe jutting plate 222 and the tubular wall 232 in FIG. 5B. Hence in thesecond embodiment when the fastening apparatus 240 is in the unfasteningcondition the collet 220 is less likely to sway.

To prevent the collet 220 from swaying the tubular wall 332 may bedesigned as follow: when the most extended portion on the inner surfaceof the tubular wall 332 (namely the second boss 236 shown in FIG. 7) islocated in the gap 220 a of the jutting plates 222, the inner surface ofthe tubular wall 332 still has a portion in contact with the outersurface of the jutting plate 222. Hence even if the fastening apparatus240 is in the unfastening condition the tubular wall 332 still can pressthe jutting plate 222 to prevent the collet 220 from swaying.

Of course, having the second boss 236 on the tubular wall 232 is not theonly way to enable the fastening apparatus 240 to form the fasteningeffect. In practice, as long as there is an extended portion on theinner surface of the tubular wall 232 to be in contact with the extendedportion on the outer surface of the jutting plate 222 that can push thejutting plate 222 inwards to press the fastened member 214 and then togenerate a tensile force can achieve the same effect.

Refer to FIGS. 8A and 8B for a third embodiment of the invention thatdepict the fastening apparatus in fastening and unfastening conditions.

Compared with the tubular wall 232 of the first embodiment (referring toFIGS. 5A and 5B), the tubular wall 432 in this embodiment differs byhaving not boss on the inner surface thereof. The inner surface of eachsegment is extended gradually inwards in the clockwise direction.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when the fastening apparatus 240 is in thefastening condition, the greater extended portion of the inner surfaceof the tubular wall 432 is in contact with the greater extended portionof the outer surface of the jutting plate. Referring to FIG. 8B, whenthe fastening apparatus 240 is in the unfastening condition, the mostextended portion on the inner surface of the tubular wall 432 is locatedin the gap 220 a.

Moreover, in the embodiments set forth above, the fastening apparatus240 aims to fasten the holding device 210. In practice, it also can beused to fasten other assembly articles such as a charge socket ofhandsets, statues or other ornamental articles as long as the assemblyarticles have a fastened member 214 to be fastened by the fasteningapparatus 240.

In addition, the fastening apparatus 240 is not necessary to be mountedonto the holding dock 250. It also can be fastened to other objectsthrough screws or a suction tray such as on a wall or in the interior ofvehicles.

Furthermore, the fastened member may be an ellipsoidal or conical objector other shapes as long as it can be pressed by the collet 220 togenerate a tensile force when the fastening apparatus is in thefastening condition.

In short, by means of the invention users can rotate merely the sleeveto assemble and disassemble the holding device or other assemblyarticles. Moreover, the convex brink and concave brink are locatedrespectively on the collet or sleeve so that they are less likely toloosen off. Such a design also enables users to easily determine whetherthe fastening condition has been reached. Thus the fastening apparatusof the invention is easier to assemble and use.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth forthe purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments ofthe invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A holding rack comprising a holding dock, a holding device and afastening apparatus, the holding device having a holding bracket and afastened member, the fastening apparatus having a collet and a sleeve,the collet being mounted onto the holding dock to hold the fastenedmember and encased by the sleeve, wherein: the collet has a bottom and aplurality of jutting plates which are located longitudinally on thebottom in a protrusive manner, each of the jutting plates having anouter surface on which a portion being extended outwards greater thanother portion; and the sleeve has a tubular wall which has a pluralityof segments corresponding to the jutting plates, each of the segmentshaving an inner surface on which a portion thereof being extendedinwards greater than other portion thereof; wherein the greater extendedinwards portion of the tubular wall is in contact with the greaterextended outwards portion of the jutting plate such that the juttingplate are urged inwards in a inclined manner to compress the fastenedmember.
 2. The holding rack of claim 1, wherein each of the juttingplates has an inner surface which has a first boss located thereon. 3.The holding rack of claim 1, wherein the greater extended portion on theinner surface of the tubular wall is a second boss, the outer surface ofthe jutting plate having at least a portion extended gradually outwardsin the counterclockwise direction or the clockwise direction.
 4. Theholding rack of claim 3, wherein the second boss and the jutting platehave respectively a convex brink and a concave brink that are engagedwith each other.
 5. The holding rack of claim 3, wherein the second bossand the jutting plate have respectively a concave brink and a convexbrink that are engaged with each other.
 6. The holding rack of claim 3,wherein the inner surface of each segment of the tubular wall exceptwhere the second boss is located is extended gradually inwards in thecounterclockwise direction or the clockwise direction.
 7. The holdingrack of claim 1, wherein the greater extended outwards portion on theouter surface of the jutting plate is a first boss, the inner surface ofeach segment of the tubular wall having at least a portion extendedgradually inwards in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwisedirection.
 8. The holding rack of claim 1, wherein the tubular wall hasa portion of the inner surface in contact with the outer surface of thejutting plates when the most extended portion of the inner surface ofthe tubular wall is located between two jutting plates.
 9. The holdingrack of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further has at least one push memberlocated outside the tubular wall.
 10. A fastening apparatus, mountedonto an object to fasten an assembly article which has a fastenedmember, comprising a collet and a sleeve, the collet being mounted ontothe fastened member to hold the fastened member and encased by thesleeve, wherein: the collet has a bottom and a plurality of juttingplates which are located longitudinally on the bottom in a protrusivemanner, each of the jutting plates having an outer surface on which aportion being extended outwards greater than other portion; and thesleeve has a tubular wall which has a plurality of segmentscorresponding to the jutting plates, each of the segments having aninner surface on which a portion thereof being extended inwards greaterthan other portion thereof; wherein the greater extended inwards portionof the tubular wall is in contact with the greater extended outwardsportion of the jutting plate such that the jutting plate are urgedinwards and in a inclined manner to compress the fastened member. 11.The fastening apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the jutting plateshas an inner surface which has a first boss located thereon.
 12. Thefastening apparatus of claim 10, wherein the greater extended portion onthe inner surface of the tubular wall is a second boss, the outersurface of the jutting plate having at least a portion extendedgradually outwards in the counterclockwise direction or the clockwisedirection.
 13. The fastening apparatus of claim 12, wherein the secondboss and the jutting plate have respectively a convex brink and aconcave brink that are engageable with each other.
 14. The fasteningapparatus of claim 12, wherein the second boss and the jutting platehave respectively a concave brink and a convex brink that are engageablewith each other.
 15. The fastening apparatus of claim 12, wherein theinner surface of each segment of the tubular wall except where thesecond boss is located is extended gradually inwards in thecounterclockwise direction or the clockwise direction.
 16. The fasteningapparatus of claim 10, wherein the greater extended outwards portion onthe outer surface of the jutting plate is a second boss, the innersurface of each segment of the tubular wall having at least a portionextended gradually inwards in the clockwise direction.
 17. The fasteningapparatus of claim 10, wherein the tubular wall has a portion of theinner surface in contact with the outer surface of the jutting plateswhen the most extended portion of the inner surface of the tubular wallis located between two jutting plates.
 18. The fastening apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the sleeve further has at least one push memberlocated outside the tubular wall.